The Imperial was introduced in 1926 as Chrysler’s top-of-the-line automobile. After 1954, its Chrysler branding was dropped so the company could better apposition the car to compete against the Cadillac, Continental, Lincoln, Packard, and other premium brands. The second generation of the Imperial as a standalone was born in 1957 and – thus – the 1958 models were little changed. That did not include a pickup truck like the seller’s vehicle, possibly a one-off conversion. Located in Holbrook, New York, this non-running oddity is available here on craigslist for $18,500. Thanks for scouting out this unusual tip for us, T.J.!
With or without the Chrysler moniker, the 1950s Imperials were impressive automobiles. Big, luxurious, overly styled, and well-equipped helped make the Imperial name apropos. According to Webster’s Dictionary, the adjective “imperial’ means “sovereign, supreme, superior or of unusual size or excellence.” After a redesign for 1957, the 1958s were little different except for quad-headlights, which had become legal in all 48 states (this was before Alaska and Hawaii). The ’58 Imperial was the first automobile to offer cruise control, known as “Auto-Pilot” back in the day.
Little is known about the seller’s Imperial and how it came to become a pickup. We found a photo of another one of these that looks a year or two newer and has different wheels. In that case, it’s described as a flower car for which Cadillac was known to have served. Perhaps this Imperial once was one, too, or it was the product of a singular project that someone decided to undertake. We don’t know how well the work was done or whether it was derived from a coupe, convertible, or sedan.
These Imperials were powered by a 392 cubic inch “Hemi” V8 and this one may be intact, but some of the attaching hardware looks to be all askew, so whether it runs or not is up for debate. The seller doesn’t comment on that or provide much in way of details or photographs. Assuming the cost of acquisition here is acceptable, what would you do with this Imperial “El Camino” if you had it?
Who out here would give 18.5K for this? Speak up or go hide.
Not me but it is pretty easy to see what has happened. Cry and complain as you will. These cars were very cheap in the 1970’s and 80’s.
I was offered a pair of 1962 Imperials in the early 1980’s from an older co worker that knew I liked cars. She bought a farm and the cars were in the garage. One was a black 2 door hardtop. 42,000 original miles. Drivers side quarter was skinned a bit otherwise mint. The other was a pink 4 door hardtop. The original owner bought both at the same time. One for him and the other for his wife. The black hardtop was $300. The 4 door was $700. For me $800 for both. Original paperwork and all. I passed and later the four door was used in the local parade. My co workers husband decided to run for mayor. He ended up winning. I changed jobs and later learned the two door hardtop was used in the local derby. Heart broken and in denial but went to see the remains and sure enough the white leather seat was still intact and miles only rolled up a few.
So don’t boo hoo. These were at one time old cars and very limited interest at preserving them. It’s obvious someone took a worthless car and made it useable. Many forget in the 1950’s all the glorious touring cars turned into tow rigs. The asking price is up there yes. I could see it being fixed and useful in it’s current capacity. It’s a big boat. What else can you do with it?
Correct-o-mundo! You could get these for nothing at one time….always a winner at the demolition derby.
The shortcoming always seems to be the b-pillar, back glass and tailgate. The inside of the bed seems nicely done. Maybe fabricate a false deck to utilize the rear window, work in some fixed wing windows. Salvage a pickup truck tailgate assembly (non electric) with hinges…re-work/integrate and re-skin it with some trunk lid or roof sheet metal…if any is left. Easier said than done but there is potential! Dig it!
I like it. What I really hate is when someone takes a Cadillac, or Lincoln, or in this case, an Imperial, chops it up into a truck, usually either with a fixed tailgate or no tailgate and EVERYONE calls it a flower car.
It’s NOT. I do not believe there was ever an Imperial flower car. And I have the book on Hearses, flower cars and limos.
Would that be the Crestline book bound in black ? I understand that it’s
a bit hard to find nowadays, and yes, you are correct in that there never
were Imperial flower cars.
Wow Diva,you are a diva! I have that book in my collection. I was really into professional cars and onced owned the 1985 Cadillac Eureka Town car hearse show car. This by the way had a removable roof over the driver and passengers head. The door frames could also be removed in true 1920’s Town Car driving.
Have had a 56 Cadillac Superior hearse. A 54 Packard Henney combo and a 1959 Dodge Memphian. Great observation on homebuilt flower cars.
Not sure how many beers, sawzall blades, and welding rods were involved, but this is quite un-fortunate…
Even worse, they probably had a wire-feed welder which allowed more bad welds in a shorter time.
Impérial as a stand alone brand came into being in 1955.
Exactly. “After 1954, its Chrysler branding was dropped,” then reappeared in 1971 when a small decklid nameplate said “Imperial by Chrysler.”
The second one is a 60 4 door, welded skin for rear doors.
There was a 59 Imperial here in the desert near Sky Valley on Dillon Rd.
Actually the quality looks decent, I’m trying to figure out the tailgate, it looks like a real tailgate in the picture on the trailer. I don’t see a way for it to latch.
@ pwtiger……. on the third picture, it is a real tailgate. The first two pictures are of a ’58 with no tailgate. The third picture, on the trailer, is a ’60 Imperial with a tailgate.
I’d like to know why the backup lights on the ’58 have red lenses???
And what is that bed floor made of?
Angel, The photo of the 1960 has been pulled from the original ad, so it’s likely the guy has 2 similar cars.
I thought Edsel’s were ugly. This is a close looking cousin in the fugly department but to each their own. I like the hemi but wouldn’t want to separate it from the matched pair. Some old Mopar person will hopefully save it when the price matches what someone will pay.
I believe the 392 is worth a fortune these days. The car is just fun/foolishness. Save some of the hard to find parts for that one person restoring an Imperial, and off to the shredder it goes. To be clear, the reason these aren’t around, they kicked arse at the demo-derby until they were banned.
Hi Howard, you’re right about the hemi being worth a fortune, especially this one with the dual quads. I bought a 57 Imperial in 1999. I was lucky because it was mostly complete, but if you needed a part that was Imperial specific it was either very expensive or unobtainable. The cost to replate the front bumper was close to $6000.00. When I started adding up the cost of restoration I quickly realized that my pockets weren’t deep enough to take on this project.I found a guy who not only had the money but also the talent to do the restoration so I passed it on. I really enjoyed driving it the time I had it though. The front seat was as big and as comfortable as a sofa. It would steer with one finger and you had to be careful with the brakes. They would put you through the windshield if you weren’t gentle with them. My wife, (5 ft.) liked to drive it, but not parking it. She said she felt like she was driving an aircraft carrier.
I see no tailgate on this one. Possibly a fuel saving design?
The price is too high and this one would require deep pockets. Or a fat wallet.
I would remove the hemi and sell it for big bucks, then replace it with a 440 and keep it for a gofur.
Yikes. The welded seam on the back door is very visible. But even if it wasn’t the lines of what remains of the roof just don’t go with the bed.
I’m sure at one point in its life it was a flower car my guess would be a funeral home had it built trying to save money from the Cadillac or Lincoln it would be a nice conversation starter at car shows
I think the reason that parts in the engine bay look a bit skew is because the pics were taken using a “fish eye” lens.
A little finish body work on rear door weld and you would have a stylish one of a kind custom imperial. I’d bet this would be a big hit at custom car shows if the body work was improved.
A friend who was a Mopar collector, had a couple of the Imperial flower cars over the years. They were all awkward where the passenger compartment was transformed into a cab and in the tailgate area. They were all bought for cheap.
That’s because they were not REAL flower cars!!!
Hearses and flower cars were made by companies like S&S, Miller Meteor, Scoville & Scoville. Everything you see here was done in someone’s garage or the back of a bodyshop
Rather be called a “Flower Car” than a hearse!
My ’74 Eldo-Camino was a head turner, I really enjoyed it.
BTW, my tailgate was removable with a couple of bolts.
74 Eldo Camino. One of the few FWD cars ever converted to a pickup
Where’s the tailgate?
This is definitely not up to the standard of a coachbuilt flower car. It was somebody’s backyard conversion. It might be a starting point for someone to do the same thing, but better. This price point should buy a driver-grade original car though. It’s tough to say what this might be worth, but near twenty grand ain’t it.
@ thatguy
Finally!!! Someone who gets it!
My my, Angel Diva, you are a picky one. I don’t remember the words “Flower Car” or “Hearse” being copyrighted, or limited to any one brand. So if old Jethro wants to chop off a sedan’s ass end and call it a “flower car”, I’m ok with that! (Hope to not ride in one any time soon, regardless of brand or mfgr!)
Jim,
There used to be one near here and seeing yours, it must have had the quarter panels stretched. It had tandem rear axles and racks for pedal cars. It was called the “Kidillac”.
One could have been creative and kept the rear doors as opening options. Would give you easy access to the front of the pickup box. You need to think “OUTSIDE THE BOX” but in this case inside as well!!!
Most likely a coach-built flower car or converted hearse.
Just kidding! But seriously, the fact that more than 1 of these exists in roughly the same color suggest it isn’t a 1-off backyard build.
No, youre right it’s likely a 2 or 3-off backyard build. The fact that just about everyone has mentioned the poor quality back door weld tells me it wasn’t built by a professional coach builder.
Is a flower car a regional thing?
I live in Northern Ky and have attended plenty of funerals, unfortunately, and have never seen one.
Wow. Angel Diva give it a rest.
In the current Craigslist ad there are only 3 pictures of the older imperial pickup. It does not show bad door welds. Those are on the trailered later model pickup.
Unless you are some kind of seer you have no idea where, why or when the first car came to be.
So who knows? Flower car? What does it matter?
Its a Hemi! and add $10K Price is out of line. Idea, very creative! This is a car that should be dropped off at Kindig It Design.
Hi Howard, you’re right about the hemi being worth a fortune, especially this one with the dual quads. I bought a 57 Imperial in 1999. I was lucky because it was mostly complete, but if you needed a part that was Imperial specific it was either very expensive or unobtainable. The cost to replate the front bumper was close to $6000.00. When I started adding up the cost of restoration I quickly realized that my pockets weren’t deep enough to take on this project.I found a guy who not only had the money but also the talent to do the restoration so I passed it on. I really enjoyed driving it the time I had it though. The front seat was as big and as comfortable as a sofa. It would steer with one finger and you had to be careful with the brakes. They would put you through the windshield if you weren’t gentle with them. My wife, (5 ft.) liked to drive it, but not parking it. She said she felt like she was driving an aircraft carrier.
AMCFAN……
Yes, I love that book and I know that car. You actually owned it? Aren’t you the lucky one. It’s a beautiful car and a true towncar. Of course, there will be a miserable few, on this site, unhappy with their life that
someone else’s opinion means nothing
, only theirs. Personally, i
DGAS
I just hope I don’t become like that when I become old and grumpy. Oh, wait, I am old. Just not grumpy.
Afraid of a little education in your old age guys? From a woman?